Gardenia

FIRE* Eldersburg: Sykesville, Gamber, and Liberty Road and XTC Randallstown of Baltimore County responded to a house fire on Gardenia Street at 7:30 a.m. Tuesday. Units were out for 34 minutes.* Sykesville: Sykesville responded to a fire alarm on Main Street at 4:14 p.m. Tuesday. Units were out for 19 minutes.Sykesville firefighters responded for a call of a fire alarm sounding in a building on Stratford Drive at 11:21 a.m. Monday. They were out for five minutes.

The most telling works come at the end of "God Bless th Child," the Billie Holiday exhibit at the Eubie Blake National Museum and Cultural Center. That's because curator Lotus Do Brooks has placed there the works created in response to "Strange Fruit," Holiday's song about lynching.Oletha De Vane's "The Lady and Her Song" represents the singer standing in front of the words of the song, "Southern trees bear a strange fruit. Blood on the leaves and blood at the root . . .," partly printed across a Ku Klux Klan-style hood.

Film and stage actor Harry Guardino has replaced the late Vincent Gardenia in the touring production of "Breaking Legs." Mr. Gardenia, 71, died of a heart attack Dec. 9 after a Philadelphia performance of "Breaking Legs," just days after completing the show's run at the Morris Mechanic Theatre in Baltimore.In the play, Mr. Guardino picks up the role of an Italian-American restaurant owner who begins to take on godfather airs after he invests in a Broadway show. The 68-year-old Mr. Guardino is best known for portraying tough-guy characters in movies such as "Dirty Harry," "The Enforcer" and "The Hell With Heroes."

Actor Vincent Gardenia, who died of an apparent heart attac in Philadelphia yesterday, loved Italian restaurants and loved the theater. The final role of his lengthy career gave him a chance to indulge both passions.Baltimore audiences were among the last to see the 71-year-old actor portray Lou Graziano, an Italian-American restaurateur, in Tom Dulack's comedy, "Breaking Legs," which completed a monthlong run at the Morris A. Mechanic Theatre on Sunday.Gardenia had played one preview performance of the show's subsequent engagement, at Philadelphia's Forrest Theater, Tuesday night.

Unlike the heavy Italian food -- pasta, veal and peppers, calamari -- that is served on stage in Tom Dulack's "Breaking Legs," this comedy, which opened last night at the Mechanic Theatre, is definitely light fare.As directed by John Tillinger, its chief delight comes from the obvious pleasure the cast takes in performing this slight, but tightly staged, script. Indeed, at times it's delicioso to see Vincent Gardenia, Joseph Mascolo and Vince Viverito throw their weight around as big-time operators in a small town.

'BREAKING LEGS'When: Tuesdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m., with matinees Wednesdays and Saturdays at 2 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. Through Dec. 6.Where: Morris A. Mechanic Theatre, Hopkins Plaza.Tickets: $17.50-$42.50:. Call: (410) 625-1400; TDD: (410) 625-1407.Even if his tie weren't untied and his feet weren't propped on the hotel coffee table, Vincent Gardenia would look disheveled.He's got a disheveled-looking kind of face. In repose, his mouth droops in a frown that seems to stretch all the way to his jowls.

When the Baltimore Film Festival began 21 years ago, th program was largely experimental, a selection of films of all lengths, most of them by American film students.Later, many of the films were foreign, something that is true of the 22nd annual festival. It will, however, begin with a program that is, in a way, a salute to the early festivals. The opening program, beginning tonight at 7:30 at the Baltimore Museum of Art, is a group of films shown under the collective title of ''Director's Showcase.

WHEN ASKED where he'd most like to dine while he's in town over the weekend, actor Vince Gardenia replied, "Sabatino's." Seems Gardenia, who'll be paid a tribute by the Baltimore International Film Festival, is old friends with Sab's co-owner, Vince Culotta, who's donating a party for the occasion.Meanwhile, film buffs may want to tune into Maryland Public Television to catch the film, "Painting the Town," which was the hit of last year's festival.The documentary was produced and directed by Amalie R. Rothschild, daughter of local artist/philanthropist Amalie Rothschild, and airs at 10 p.m. Sunday.

EMMY-OSCAR WINNER Vincent Gardenia will be in town to pick up a Biffy for his mantel April 7 when the Baltimore International Film Festival honors him at its second annual Biffy Awards gala at the Baltimore Museum of Art.The awards will be preceded by a screening of some of the actor's work, including scenes from "Moonstruck" and "L.A. Law."HEAD CASE: Remind us to tell you privately one day about how this columnist got locked in a bathroom with (and by) gonzo journalist Hunter Thompson the other night at Max's on Broadway after asking him to inscribe a couple of hardback copies of his first book, "Hells Angels."